36. Mystery father

x

1995

He had been in his twenties when he had met her. From the moment he first laid his eyes on this beauty in front of him, her golden locks shining in the light. Brown eyes and the smile that made his knees weak. Charlene was his first love, but she was a stubborn woman, chuckling to himself as he still could so easily picture her vivid in the back of his mind.

But their love only lasted for a few months because he left New Orleans due to his work. A decision he had made, but had always regretted. And when he finally had returned, he didn't find her anymore. She didn't answer to his calls either. So he had to mend his broken heart and forget this wonderful woman he had once known. After a while, he met Claire. Kathleen's mother.

"I trust you don't have anymore daughters in your past?" "Would make my task a little easier.." He heard Danny's voice as he walked to sit beside him in the dining area at the main house.

Smiling and glancing at him. "Well I can't be entirely sure." He tried to say with a smile, but at the moment he was worried. Worried about Kathleen, how was she doing. If she was alive. Worrying about the new daughter that was in labor in the very building they were sitting at.

"You okay?" He heard Danny's voice, this time more serious in tone.

"I don't know." He said honestly.

"How'd you be if you suddenly found out you had a secret child?" Tex met Danny's gaze.

"That you never got to raise." He added.

"You loved her mother." Danny said and he nodded to him. Yeah, he had loved Charlene and now her daughter was here to bring all the memories back.

"I did. Still probably do." He admitted.

Then they saw Maria come out of the room where it all was happening and they both held their breaths. "I'm just getting some supplies. Everything's going well." She said to reassure them.

"Just wait, your turn will be soon." Tex smiled a bit at Danny and he smiled back. Danny would soon be in the same position, when Kara would give birth to their baby. He still remembered the day when Kathleen was born. Being there for Claire, holding her hand as she was enduring the pain of childbirth. And when he heard the cry of this little girl, he was overjoyed. Tearing up as it was suddenly the sweetest sound he had ever heard. He was processing all of it in his mind. He had become a father again today and would be a grandfather soon. Chuckling, a grandfather. As he was thinking he saw Cruz coming towards them.

"You!" Tex exclaimed as he got up and walked quickly in front of Cruz.

"How do you know my daughter?" He stared at Cruz. Noticing that Danny got up as well, probably to hold the peace between the two them.

"Because the father of the child spoke of her." Cruz explained calmly, giving a look to Danny.

"And who might that be?" Tex asked.

"Sir, all I can say that he loves her. They had been writing letters for a while and they met in Norfolk before we were deployed to the Arctic." Cruz told them.

"You can say his name." Danny said.

"I think it's best that she tells the story. It's not my place to reveal secrets, because I'm certain the father of the baby doesn't know." Cruz added and sat down by the table.

"You sure it's love and not just a fling?" He came to sit by the table and eyed Cruz, seeing that he was uneasy to speak about it.

"The way he spoke of her. He loves her and I'm pretty sure he was going to ask her to marry him." Cruz said as his voice saddened.

"He's a good man, smart and young. Just needs a little self confidence and experience." Cruz described the man and he noticed the look he shared with Danny.

"I suppose you might know who he is." Tex met Danny's look and Danny nodded.

05:47, March 6th 2015.

He had a grandson now.

It was later the day, he thought it was best to give some time to his new daughter after her long hours giving birth. He gently knocked the door and heard a voice saying it was okay to come in. He entered to the room and saw her holding the little boy wrapped in blankets on her chest. Smiling at the view, he almost thought he was looking at her mother. She looked just like her, only younger.

"Congratulations! I hear it's a boy." He smiled at her and walked a little closer to her bed.

"Thank you." She gave him a look and he noticed that she felt the situation a little awkward. She didn't know him and there he was standing beside her bed.

"I know you are probably as surprised as I am, but I loved your mother." He said, he wanted her to know that he had loved her.

"I know, my mom was always so sad when she spoke of you." She said.

"Then why didn't she answer my calls?" He asked, but how could his daughter know the answer to that question. He might never discover the answer.

"Is she alive?" He thought to ask even though he was afraid of the answer.

"She died a few years ago." He heard her say with a depth of sorrow and he saw the way she was looking at her newborn son. With mother's love.

"I'm sorry." He said. "But I'm still here if you need me." He added and she met his gaze.

"You want to hold him?" She asked and he was a bit startled by the question. It was a long time ago since he had hold a little baby in his arms. He nodded and stepped closer to take the little boy in his arms. He was smiling as he looked down to the little boy who was sleeping. He saw the faint redness in his hair.

"This one is a charmer." He chuckled.

"So was his father." She stated sadly. He heard from the sound of her voice that she was in love with the young man.

"Was? You know what happened to him?" He looked at her.

"No. Last I heard of him was when the Nathan James returned from the Arctic. He was going to travel to visit his mother and then come to me in New Orleans." She told him.

"I didn't tell him. Wanted it to be a surprise." She said as she looked down at her hands that were intertwining in her lap.

"I'll help you find him." He said and she met his gaze.

"We'll find him." He repeated reassuringly and she nodded.

"So, does this little guy have a name?" He looked down at the boy again.

"I named him after his grandfather." "From his father's side. He died in the line of duty." She said with a unsure voice. He smiled, it didn't matter to him if the boy was named after him or someone else. All that mattered that he got a chance to get know the little boy and the boy's mother.

"Brian Eric Miller is his name." She smiled. "Eric is his father's name."

"It fits him perfectly." He said and he gave Baby Brian back to his mother.

"We'll find Eric." He placed his hand on her shoulder, giving her hope that she might be reunited with her love one day.

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